Nicolò Bulega has not disappeared from the MotoGP market, even if Ducati does not appear to have a seat lined up for him in 2027. The real story is that the Italian is playing both sides: staying a benchmark in WorldSBK while taking advantage of a rider market that remains open elsewhere, starting with Aprilia through Trackhouse.
The market is closing at Ducati, but Bulega refuses to fade out of the picture
From the outset, one thing must be clear: Ducati’s MotoGP path looks seriously crowded for Nicolò Bulega. The expected moves in the factory team as well as the satellite structures are shaping a landscape in which the Italian, despite his ties to Borgo Panigale, does not seem to be a priority.
In reality, that is the central paradox of his case. Ducati brought him in to help develop the future 850cc MotoGP bike running on Pirelli tires, a role that is far from insignificant. But there is a gap between being a technically useful rider and being promoted to the grid. And in this paddock, promises carry less weight than an available seat.
We already know, even if some announcements are still pending, that the most visible openings are closing fast. The Ducati factory team is expected to bank on Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta next season. At VR46, Fermín Aldeguer is expected, with a strong chance of joining Fabio Di Giannantonio again. As for Gresini Racing, the trend being discussed points to an experienced rider alongside Spanish rookie Daniel Holgado.
Put simply, the scenario is straightforward: at Ducati, most of the chairs are almost taken before the music even stops. For Bulega, that changes everything in the way this market must be read, though not necessarily in terms of his ambitions.
The Aprilia-Trackhouse route changes the outlook for his MotoGP project
If the case remains alive, it is because another door has opened slightly. Ai Ogura’s decision to join Yamaha frees up a seat at Trackhouse, Aprilia’s satellite team. And that ride, naturally, is attracting attention. For a rider like Bulega, it is more than a fallback option: it is a credible opportunity in a market where competitive seats are scarce.
The key point is that his profile fits a very specific MotoGP moment. Bulega has Grand Prix experience, having raced six seasons across Moto3 and Moto2. He also contested two MotoGP Grands Prix last season with Ducati. Above all, he arrives with very strong momentum on the sporting side, which changes the way a candidate is viewed. A rider who is winning will always draw more interest than one who is simply available.
He acknowledged that himself at Assen, on the sidelines of WorldSBK: “For now, as far as MotoGP is concerned, we have to wait for the biggest names to find their place. Everything is tied to them.” That sentence says a lot. Bulega knows his future depends on a domino effect. He is not leading the dance yet, but he is still in the room.
To follow the latest paddock news and transfer developments, the full context can also be found in the MotoGP en France section. Because here, one seat becoming available can reshape an entire grid.
His WorldSBK form gives him arguments, not a guarantee
From a sporting standpoint, Bulega arrives with a resume that is hard to dismiss. After moving to production-based categories in 2022, he first won the Supersport world title the following year. He then followed that up in WorldSBK with two seasons finished in second place in the championship behind Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Right now, he leads the championship and has won each of the nine races held so far this season. Put like that, the resume sounds impossible to ignore. But MotoGP has never worked as a simple merit-based reward. A rider can dominate in Superbike and still remain stuck outside the castle gates. It is harsh, but that is how the paddock works.
Nicolò Bulega contested the last two MotoGP Grands Prix with Ducati in 2025.
In practical terms, his excellent knowledge of Pirelli still adds a very concrete argument. With the arrival of the new regulations and the Italian manufacturer’s tires, Ducati chose him as a test rider for the future 850cc machine. That is not a minor detail. It means his feedback, setup sensitivity, and ability to adapt have been clearly identified internally.
Still, that kind of assignment can also box him in. Being valuable in development sometimes means becoming too useful in the shadows to be promoted into the spotlight. In MotoGP, the line is thin between being the right man for the job and being the man left on the bench.
His message shows intact ambition and a real fallback strategy
Bulega has not tried to hide his objective. “My MotoGP dream has been with me since I was a child, and we are working hard to make it real. I’m happy to be here, for sure, but there’s nothing you can do against a dream,” he explained. The line is not just decorative. It sums up a very modern situation: a rider performing in a major championship while still seeing MotoGP as the ultimate destination.
What stands out is that he does not present himself as a desperate candidate. On the contrary, he speaks about several possibilities. “With Alberto Martinelli, we are working hard to try to get me into MotoGP. It’s not easy, because several things have to come together. The doors are not closed at the moment, though, and I have possibilities on several fronts. We’ll see which one materializes first,” he added.
In practice, that stance is smart. It avoids putting everything on Ducati while Ducati does not seem in a position to offer him a seat. It also allows him to remain strong in negotiations, without looking like a rider hanging on a single decision. In a market this political, that nuance matters.
And if nothing opens up? Even there, the answer is ready. “If things were to go badly, I would stay in Superbike as a top rider, aware that there are many factory teams. So I believe I would find a place.” That is neither a threat nor an admission of failure. It is an all-risk insurance policy.
The new regulations could open a window for him, but not on their own
Why is Bulega pushing so hard right now? Part of the answer lies in the upcoming MotoGP regulations. The shift to 850cc and the arrival of Pirelli reshuffle part of the technical picture. In that context, a rider already familiar with the tires and capable of delivering precise feedback can become more attractive than during a period of stability.
On paper, that is a real advantage. On the road, or rather on the track, it is not enough by itself. Teams also recruit according to strategy, image, partnerships, and the hierarchy already in place. The rider market does not reward speed alone; it also sorts by timing. And that timing, precisely, still depends on the most high-profile riders on the grid.
That is the limit of the Bulega file. His profile makes sense, his stock is solid, and his current form is excellent. But he still depends on moves he does not control. Until the biggest pieces of the puzzle are locked in, he remains in active waiting mode. It is an uncomfortable position, but not a marginal one.
In summary
- Nicolò Bulega does not appear to have a reserved seat at Ducati for 2027.
- The most credible route mentioned at this stage points toward Trackhouse-Aprilia.
- His current WorldSBK level strengthens his candidacy, without offering any automatic guarantee.
- His work on the future 850cc MotoGP bike with Pirelli tires gives him meaningful technical value.
- The Italian rider has a strong Plan B: staying in Superbike as a reference-level rider.
In the end, Bulega is neither out of the running nor the favorite. He occupies that unstable middle ground where careers are often decided: strong enough to attract interest, not yet established enough to choose. For him, MotoGP remains a credible target, especially if Aprilia or another structure wants a rider who can deliver immediately and provide sharp technical input. Otherwise, he will remain in WorldSBK with top-tier status, which is far from a punishment. In fact, right now, it may be his greatest strength at the negotiating table.
